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The value of keeping a paper trail has got lost in mutual political accusations. Appearance of correctness is important just like being correct.

• mtgx 10y ago
  In some of the U.S. states they do keep paper ballots, but when they did an audit and saw some significant discrepancies, they threw their hands up in the air and said that it's probably nothing nefarious - just machines being glitchy and all. So paper ballots are nice, but it's certainly not enough. You need a system put in place so that when there's an audit and the numbers don't match, a revote is automatic, and the commission can't just excuse the issue away with "glitches." Or at the very least, you recount all the paper ballots and go with those results. But this process needs to be guaranteed under the law somehow. You can't leave it up to the those in charge of the elections, who may happen to benefit from a result, to decide whether there should be a recount or revote. And the punishments should be drastic otherwise (we are talking about maintaining the integrity of the democracy after all - slaps on the wrist shouldn't happen punishments need to be handed).
  • eli 10y ago
    There was an election recount that found a significant difference between the paper count and machine count? I'd like to read more. Do you have a link?